Uber cab rape case: Driver convicted, faces life-term

A Delhi court yesterday convicted an Uber cab driver for raping a 25-year-old executive in his taxi and endangering her life last December and faces life imprisonment

New Delhi: A Delhi court yesterday convicted an Uber cab driver for raping a 25-year-old executive in his taxi and endangering her life last December and faces life imprisonment.

Shiv Kumar Yadav being taken away from the court by Delhi police personnel. Pic/PTI

Shiv Kumar Yadav (32) was found guilty for the offences under Sections 376 (2) (m) (while committing rape causes grievous bodily harm or disfigures or endangers life of a woman), 366 (abducting with an intent to compel her for marriage), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.

“Shiv Kumar Yadav is convicted of all the charges (framed against him). To come up for arguments on quantum of sentence on October 23,” Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja said.

The court also said the detailed judgment would be made available on October 23 after pronouncement of sentence. It had reserved the verdict on October 7. With yesterday’s verdict, Yadav faces a maximum of life-term which under the relevant provision means imprisonment for his remaining life.

Yadav, who was brought to the court from jail, appeared stunned as the judge read out the verdict. While his family members, including wife and parents, were present in the courtroom, they did not get a chance to talk to him as he was immediately taken back to the lock-up.

Prosecution said the incident took place on the night of December 5, 2014, when the victim, a finance executive working in Gurgaon, was heading back to her house at Inderlok in north-west Delhi. It told the court that Yadav had slapped her several times and pressed her neck. The prosecutor said as per the doctor, the marks on the victim’s neck were suggestive of an attempt to strangulate her.

While the victim’s father who was present in the court expressed satisfaction that justice has been done to his daughter, the driver’s wife broke down outside the courtroom and said the verdict has ruined their family.

“We are from poor background and those who have resources succeed and God is watching everything,” she said while complaining that she was not allowed to talk to her husband even for a minute.